The Covenant of Water: An Oprah’s Book Club Selection

Beautifully written, great background on the political and historical state of India where the story takes place. I enjoy the medical detail although some readers may find it a bit beyond them and a little bit too graphic in parts. A lot of heartache and tragedies in the story too, but it all adds to a magnificent novel that you don't want to put down.

I am still reading this (on page 548 of 715) but felt compelled to leave a review as I’m enjoying it so much. I normally whizz through books but I’ve really taken the time to enjoy this one. It’s beautifully written with fantastic descriptions of the countries and lifestyles. The story is as explained on the back of the book. A lovely read and one of the best books I have read.

I have been dithering between three stars and four stars. This is medical fiction so I should have expected death, but I found getting attached to characters and then watching them die, a little too much. I have just experienced a loss though, so this may be why I was rooting for survival. Without the deaths a pertinent point and take away from the book would also be missed, sometimes loss leads to beauty and the existence of others/versions of self, which would not be possible without the loss. I just wish there were a few less deaths!I found the characters highly developed and some are living rent free in my head. Big Ammachi, Philipose, and Shamual to name a few. Baby Mol is my favourite and her pet names for characters offer beautiful insight.This novel touches on so much, politics, leprosy, controversy, slavery and does so in such a way that you are left with poignant take aways. Such as kindness unintentionally masking peoples adherence to the caste system.There was a couple of points I skim read, usually as I wanted to know the development of another characters plot in the middle of what was, to me, a less interesting section. I do think fewer words could be used in some parts of the story but also love that the novel savours the span of time it covers.A good book but my heart still aches for some of the characters. I’m also unsure of what I make of one of the main characters bit think I’ll be alone in this!

Very enjoyable!

Loved this story of enduring love, heartache, bereavement & persevement over a lifetime. The descriptions of the different family members, their lives, their residence and the surrounding countryside were evocative. I would recommend!

Good condition - thanks

I loved this book, Abraham Verghese is a most gifted writer. A story that grips your heart!A note to publishers - when a book is very thick and heavy, couldn’t it be bound in a softer way?

I found Verghese's undertaking somewhat over ambitious. To follow three generations in detail from every aspect - cultural, religious, social, political, psychological, emotional, historical - is overwhelming. There are so many characters to follow that one loses track at some point, not necessarily recalling who this was and what happened to him/her 500 pages earlier. Verghese demonstrates his immense knowledge of India and medicine, but it doesn't always hold the reader's interest and sometimes sidetracks from the main story.